Q&A with the Head Coach

S&BI staff

01/10/2003

Charles Woodson returns to practice today so we're interested to see how he executes in practice. It's great to have him back on the practice field again. He does have outstanding talent guys and when you have a corner of that magnitude it's good to get him back on the field. He's been working hard on his rehab to get back to this point. So today is a big day for him.

BILL CALLAHAN

Q.What noticeable differences have you seen in the Jets from the last meeting on both sides of the ball?

Without question, I think any team that is in this tournament right now has been productive and confident. They're every bit as effective as any team right now in the league. They are very complete. They look very poised, disciplined, prepared and are really persevering down the stretch. It seems like they have a rhythm in consistency that just exudes confidence and that is going to be the focus for us to disrupt their confidence early on. Hopefully we can get in a situation where we can start fast but they're renowned. They're an excellent team in all phases. You don't see weaknesses, you see completeness and it's going to be a real challenge in that respect.

Q. What is Gannon like to work with on a coach-player relationship basis and what makes him the player that he is?

He has such strong character and leadership. It's a real reflection of his hard work and his determination. He displays leadership in all elements and facets on and off the field. The guy is incredible. His intangibles in my mind are immeasurable. He has a very high standard for himself and for this team. He's a model of consistency and confidence around here. The guy is the epitome of a field general.

When you watch him prepare he brings a dimension of preparation that is unparalleled at the position. The one interesting thing about Gannon is that he is the type of leader that integrates everybody into his success. He extends to everybody that constant and ability to continue to stretch himself and get better everyday. You just can't say enough about it.

Q.This will be the fourth meeting in 20 weeks. How big of a factor is familiarity when you guys play on Sunday?

I think everybody makes changes relative to their scheme but for the most part I really believe that the packages stay basic and standard. Every game no matter who you play whether it's divisional or conference opponent, every game takes on it's own identity. I'm sure the Jets have learned what they did good and bad from the last contest as we did. We take the positives and draw from that and work hard as coaches and players to make improvements in the improvable areas that we need to shore up. I just think the game from a familiarity aspect of it from a personnel standpoint becomes like a chess match. How we are going deploy personnel and certain alignments and formations and match-ups. That's integral but the competition and inner battles will be interesting to watch.

It's really amazing as I watch him and study him on film. He's a quarterback that is so smooth it's almost deceptive in the way that he approaches the game or the way that his game is displayed on tape. He's so smooth and so flawless in the way that he executes and it's beautiful thing to watch. I see him so efficient in so many areas. He's one of those masters at ball handling and that is a product of a Paul Hackett quarterback. You see him do the little things like the faking and the extensions and the things that make him complete. Then again his ability to throw the ball on time in rhythm with accuracy and location is the biggest thing that sticks out in my mind. His location on square outs and comebacks and the ability to throw the deep intermediate crossing routes. It's a great thing to watch for a young quarterback to have that type of poise and command early in his career is outstanding.

Q. What is the status of your two cornerbacks?

Tory James is going to start and he's at full strength again. That is a real positive for our team. That lifts us up and obviously it shores up a corner position. Not that Clarence Love did not do a good job, we have a roll of respect for what he did coming in and shoring up that position for the last few weeks. But it's good to see Tory back on the field starting at that position. And of course Charles Woodson returns to practice today so we're interested to see how he executes in practice. It's great to have him back on the practice field again. He does have outstanding talent guys and when you have a corner of that magnitude it's good to get him back on the field. He's been working hard on his rehab to get back to this point. So today is a big day for him.